The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08
THE BENEVOLENT B'AAIS.
DIS rRICr GRAND LODGE NO 2,
i. 0. b. b.
TO Begin lis Fourteenth Annual Ses-
sion This Morning at Y. N.
II. A. Hall.
DELEGATES FROM VARIOUS
STATES IN ATTENDANCE.
Sketch Of the Order In General, and
That Portion OF Ii In
the City.

The fourteenth annual session OF
District Grand Lodge No. z, Indepen-
dent Order B'nai Berth, will begin at
10 o'clock this morning, at the Y. M.
ii. A. Hall, Second aud Union. The
organisation Is probably the leading
one with Jewish people, aud Its an
nual meetings are always fraught with
importance and interest. The follow
ipg outline Of the objeots and aims OF
the order Is fro n the pen OF Rabbi
Samfeld, and appears in the JeDiSh
Spectator Of yesterday:
The order tf the l, o. B. B., which
has Z ow attained to such dimensions,
usefulness and power as TO be retog-
niEed go an important factor in tho
history of the Jews in America, was
organized iorty-fve years ago In the
Guy Of New York. The founders,
Henry Jones, DR.. Meiz5acber, VIM.
Re an and others, we're men OF emf
nent ability and excellent worth. Un-
selfish and cosmopolitan in their
views, they looked around and no.
ticed that a large number OF Israelites
emigrating 10 this country lacked
mensal culture and the cohesive force
OF as collation. to draw closer together
those who hailed from different for.
eie1 countries. Those men OF liberal
thou hts and feeling hearts discov-
cred that many OF their coreliglon-
lists had been systematically re-
jected by Masonic lodges and benevo-
lent socist,e s, not only on account OF
pr, judice, but also because they lacked
parliamentary training and other
qualifications; they therefore devised
O plan whereby the American Jews
may be elevated in the scale OF intel
lect, the solidarity oil Judaism be
strengthened and intensified and the
altruism and charity Of the Jew be
sy,ematizsd and thoroughly organized.
Thus from as humble beginning, the
order has spread and grown to be
mighty lever OF elevaiing our people
morally and intellectually, and Of
identifying them with the highest in
terssts Of civilization and humanity,
OF raising their social standard and
make liberal provisions for the widow
and the orphan. The number OF B'nai
Berth, including those In Germany,
may be safely placed at 20, 900 men,
bere, constituting about 345 lodges,
divided into eight districts. Statistics
show that within the last six years
$3.50, 900 has been expended In aid
OF sick and needy brethren, and
$2,l3O,000 has been exp ended from the
widows and orphans funds. District
NJ L.. - Il NE. he.
INDECENT at cost OF over $3.50, 900, and
has Established the Maimonides Ii
brAry, with $4,000 volumes Of select
works in all branches OF literature.
Dls,ricie Nos. 2, 9 and 7 are the found
ers OF the Cleveland Orphan Asylum,
which now shelters $40 orphans. A
new building, at a cost of $4,000, Is
now added to this asylum to provide
for the better comtorJ OF the inmates
and to extend the usefulness OF this
noble institution. District No. z aids
also In the support and maintenance OF
the Touro Inffmary ard Orphan Home
at New Odeaus, ard may be Justly
proud that its banner OF cnarlty floats
over lha ramTart1 OF three eeeomosy-
nary II sti,utiona. District No. has
accumulated fund OF over $30,OO0
for the purpose Of erecting an orphan
asylum ut Atlantis, Ga. A size for the
builiirg has already been selected and
the work will coon be commenced.
District Grand Lodge No. 7, which
will hold iis fourteenth annual con.
vention in this city Sunday next, ia
now in prosperous condition, peace
and harmon prevailing, tue lodges
and members taking lively interes
in all matters requiring combination
OF effort and concentration OF purpose
TO accomplish the laudable aims anC
objects Of the order. This distric
comprises sixty three lodges, will
ovor $500 members, showing an in
crefea OF fifty members during IN
pes year. A new lodge was organize
at Birmingham, Ala a few weeks ag
and received It's charter. The endow
meat reserve fund has reached tn
sm1uut of iS5, lS0. exhibiting an in
crease OF $4,000 duriy & the last fey
months. The district reserve, whicl
as & separate furd has accumulate
from initiation fees, amounts now I
$4,000, the interest OF which
applied to the payment Of endov
msuts. Twenty-nlue deaths hav
occurred in the district during the pat
year, two more than have happene
during the preceding year. All thes
endowments nave been paid prompt
by tie Grand Lodge Secretary. III
fluids of the district are invested in th
safest manner possible, and the tina,
cial status Of the district proves
plain fisurse how deeply every lodI
ia the diaJlct feels the solemn oblig
ton to eurrou nd the endowment wit
such safeguards as to place it's solidit
aud perpetuity beyond any dout
Again and again the endowment h
been the subject OF discussion and lie
islation in the sessions OF the Graz
Lodge, and since the members OF Il
district have become more famili
with the endo wment problem, al
have rec 'guiz,d the 30 emn fact th
the PR mature exhaustion OF the e
do nent fund is inevitable If the g
dowmsnt dues are not raised IN accor
snca with immuiable laws and III
iu' able statistics, strong 6es
is ielt TO correct existing err
a 20 abide by the conseps
Of the competent who have ma
this question lite study. Considel
able discussion will again be devoted
Il e coming convention to this CT
jtct, and many IepI sentative ha
pet theory of his own TO present
the assembly, but it is TO be hop
that all will be unanimous in their {
desyos TO endow the endowment vi
sch strength and security that 1t "
need no further reformation and
contraction, and that the time, ,
.erRv and power Of reasoning expeI
ed ,hns. may be devoted TO promi
etill higher aims and interests OF
order. No matter how good and mol
IL is, asa moral and social duty,
provide FIR our family, in case
delh, IL ought Ger Amy not absC
all the interest and concern meml
take, in our order, and not consul
almost the entire time Of an ssseml
of T. presentati B'nai Berth, c,
yea. d to deliberate as vel upon vi
L. e.. Ianalnr. NJ -.